Plow control



May 17, 1949- B. D. sTEvENsoN 2,470,730

' PLOW CONTROL Filed July 9. 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 37 ze'7 ya WMM May 17, 1949. D. srx-:vENsoN PLOW CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fild July 9, 1945 INVENTOR. 65mm/wa .Z2 57m/4104 63 A94 q 6J.

` fm2/wer Patented May 17, 1949 UNI-TED 'S TATES PATENT O F FICE FI'TW CONTROL Benjamin D. Stevenson,"Flushing,-- Mich.

Applicition Tilly l9, 19455``S`eri-N0. 603,824

I Claim.

=1 My invention relates tota new'r and usefullimprovement in`aI plow control adapted "for use primarily on 'tractors andl the like which are designedy to pullia plow. -Whilethe-'invention-is illustrated as used-with-la plow andthe descrip- -tionrelates tofthis: particular adaptation of the invention, it willv appearfobvious that the inventionhmay also be =usedlon other-*typesor instruments such as cultivators, discs?V and the like.

erating vthe tractorissitting'ina position' vconsiderably 'forwardly Vof fthe plow. Clt 'isnecessary vthat the'plow be'A raised" and lowered-at periodic 'intervals and A'particularly 'when thefend' ofl a furrow 'is reached! and aturn Visrto'loe made; 'As the tractor reaches the end of a furrowfthe' plow is raisedI and 'remains in'raised rposition until the turn has `beenfrnadel andr the return .trip is ready to start. Nilithvpres'ent` typesofv constructions the operator usesfav lever to pull on a' drawbar which aotuates= a tripping `mechanisml which will serve to raise the-plow and retainfit in raisedposiltion-until the turnY has'heen` made. Upon releasing the tripping mechanism the plow maybe permitted -to` again4 lower-itself to. opera-tive '-p'osition. yWhen fthe present types 'of constructions much; difculty thas yloeen encountered 'particularly when I the operator is making a 'turns at' the end of'a furrow. In making ythe turn 'the operator should have the useof b'oth of his hands to control the steering of the tractor. instead ithe operator is forced to pulla'ilever toA affect an actua- 4tion of Athe vtripping mechanism 4through the draw bar. This is'anunsatisfactory condition particularly as to safety' 'and e'ciencyiinfopcration. -Wi'th'such a' mechanism it hasalsobeen shown 'that-fthe-plow is not always lowerdat the same location as the driver being busy'with the control of the-'vehicle'soiietimesfomitsf'toj lower or raise the plow'atl the-proper position.

I-It isI an' object of the present invention to 'avoid these difficulties and provide` a .f-plow control mechanism having many additional advantages.

Another obj ect'of the invention is sthe provision of aplowcontrolmechanism electrically operated so'th'at the operator by 'closing a' circitmay actuate a trippingmechanis'm and either lower vor raise the plowy at will.

`Another object of the'inventionfis the'provision oi' a plow raising and lowering vmechanism ywhich may loe actuated'by the` operator without interiering to any` great extentwith the operators control'of 'the vehicle.

`Another object of 'the invention is the. provision ofy a plow raisingI and lowering mechanismfwhich L2 may-be operated uponthe actuationoi a switch whichf may be hand-operatedA lor foot-operated as=desired.

f Alnother'object-offthe invention is the provision ota plow control-mechanism so constructed and arranged that when applied tov a tractor the plow or-other instrumentmayhe raised and'lowered atthe sameposi'tion on adjacent rows thus adding to the'efciencyof the-mechanism'asa whole andfproviding-ameans' for ending the rows which areffplowedatsubstantially the same place re- 'ga-rdlessofx the number-'of rows` which havef to be plowed.

Other objectswill appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modications'and changes maybeiinadein the detailof 'structure illust-ratedl andit is intended that such variations andmodif'cations as do not 4depart from the lintention-shall `he embraced `-within the scope Aof vthe claims-which form a part hereof. Forming apart of this application are-drawings in which,

I Fig; 1; is` a top plan view-of plow-carrying frame showing" the Ainvention applied,

fFigfZ, isra" sideA elevational View showing the invention applied with parts broken away,

F'FiguS; isia` fragmentaryside elevational View withparts-sho`wn fin section `and parts broken away, showing the mechanism in therai'sedposition contrast to the lowered position showing the'f'n'fiechanism in the flowered position in con trast"to the raised'positionshowrrin Fig. 2,

Figyl -is a fragmentary side-V elevational detail Vievlfwith parts broken'away and parts shownin sectiorr slightly' enlarged,

-Fig.'5;'is aslightly enlarged` fragmentary elevationalf'view showing-parts broken away and parts inisection,

'"Fig: '7;is a view'taken on line 'I-"l of Fig. 4,

TAFig.- 8 'isi a: fragmentary sectional view slightly enlargedr taken oniline'B-'B of Fig 7,

-"Fig.' 9,"is-r a fragmentary'sectional view taken on line 9'-9. of Fig. 4,

yFig. `10;is a` diagrammatic viewfillustrating the wiring used in the invention.

' In the drawings I have `indicated a supporting frame :"embodying' the lopposit'ely disposed side rails l'livand I8 connectedtogether by vthe cross barsilandlSA. "Connected to this 'frame and eirteriding' forwardly thereof is 1a draw bar 20 which varray"- vhe*- attached A'to a' tractor or other suitable means 'fori pulling 'the frame. EA bar 2 l-'is"securedfto" the frame i8- andi diagonally directed toward and into engagement 'withfthe' 4rail 3 22. The frame is illustrated in detail sufficiently to show the invention and the mounting of a single plow. Some of these frames are used to drag several plows but the invention will be fully understood by indicating the attachment of a single plow.

Mounted on the rail I8 is the supporting hub 23 in which the shaft 26 projecting upwardly from the furrow or advance plow 25 may be secured.

The rail I 8 is angularly turned as at 26 and attached to the lower end of this angularly turned portion 2B is a plow 2l. Secure'd to and projecting downwardly from the rails II and I8 are supporting lugs 40 and 39 respectively through which is extended the shaft 28 having the angularly turned portion 29 and the crank portion 39 on which is rotatably mounted a traction wheel 3i. Projected through supporting lugs M which project upwardly from the rails I'I and I8 is a shaft 32 having the angularly turned portion 33 and the crank 34 on which is rotatably mounted a traction wheel 35. Secured to and rotating in unison with the traction wheel 35 is a pair of spaced-apart discs 3G and 31 connected together by the studs or pins 38.

Secured to the rails Il and I3 are the upwardly projecting bars i3 and 'Q4 which connect to a sleeve l5 through which is extended a rod 46. These bars i3 and M and the sleeve 45 as Well as the rod i6 form no part of the present invention.

Fixedly connected at its lower end to the shaft 32 is a lever All to which is pivotally connected one end of the bar i8 in which is formed a notch 159.

Pivotally mounted on the rail I 8 is a lever 50 carrying a dog I adapted to engagel the teeth of the toothed segment 52 which is xedly mounted on the rail i3. A rod 515i is pivotally connected at one end to the lug 53 which is carried by the lever 50. The opposite end of this rod 54 is connected to one end of the arm 55 which is pivotally connected to end of a link 56 the opposite end of which is xedly connected to the shaft 28. The rod 5l is connected at one' end to the link 55 and threaded at its opposite ends through a nut 59 mounted on the arm 58 which is fixedly mounted on the shaft 32.

These shafts 32 and 28 are rockably mounted so that the frame may be said to be floatingly mounted on the shafts or axles 28 and 32. When these shafts 28 and 32 are rocked in such a manner as to move the cranks or angularly turned portions 29 and 33 downwardly it is obvious that the frame will be elevated. When the shafts are rocked in the opposite direction the frame may be lowered. By connecting these shafts 28 and 32 together by means of the arms 5E, nut 59, the rod 51 the link 55 and the arm 56 as well as the rod 5ft, the rocking of the shafts 23 and 32 may be controlled and effected. By rocking the lever 50 the relative location of the traction wheels 3| and 35 may be varied thus making it possible to equalize the frame as to the horizontal when one of the wheels is traveling in a furrow and the other is not.

Mounted on and projecting upwardly from the rail i3 is a lug iii) which serves as a bearing for the shaft 65. Secured to and projecting upwardly from the rail I1 is a supporting standard carrying the hub 64 and a pair of spacedapart arms or plates 6I and 62, the shaft 65 projecting through and being journaled on the hub E54. Fixe'dly mounted on the shaft 65 is a detent or locking link 6 having a recess B'I formed in one of its ends :to provide an abutment shoulder against which may engage the nose of a dog 68 pivotally mounted on the arm or plate 6I and normally held by the spring BI pressed downwardly for engaging in the recess 6l. An arm l5 is pivotally mounted by means of the pin T5 between the arms or plates 5I and 62. This arm 'I0 carries at its lower end a releasing arm or dog 'I2 which is pivotally mounted on the arm 'I0 by means of the pin 7l and which is provided at one end with a releasing nose 'i3 and at the opposite end with an outward projection or heel '14. A rocker arm 'i5 is pivotally mounted on the arm 'lil by means of the pin it. This arm 'I5 carries at its lower end a roller il?. Connected at one end of the arm 'i5 is a spring i9, the other end of which is connected to a lug 'i8 projecting outwardly from the arm 62. Projecting through the arms or plates 5I and 62 is a pin 49A which is adapted to be received in the notch or recess i9 formed in the bar 48.

Fixedly mounted on the bar 48 is a nut 83 through which slidably projects the rod Si! one end of which is pivotally connected to the member 56. Fixedly mounted on this rod di? is an abutment block 8l against which is adapted to bear one end of the spring 82 which embraces the rod 88 and which is positioned between the members 8i and 83.

Projecting outwardly from the arms BI and 62 is a supporting bracket 85 which serves to support a solenoid coil 85 which is provided with a slidable plunger 86 which is threaded through the nut 8l which carries the stem 88 projected through a slot formed in the arm l5, as shown in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 9.

Fixedly mounted on the shaft 65 is the elevating arm 89 having the spaced-apart teeth Si) projecting downwardly from the inner face thereof.

In Fig. 2, I have indicated the mechanism with the plow raised to inoperative position and in Fig. 3, the mechanism is illustrated in that position in which the plow is operative or plowing position.

When the driver of the vehicle desires to lower the plow from inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2, to operative position as shown in Fig. 3, the driver would close the switch S3 thus closing the circuit from the battery Ela to the solenoid 85, this solenoid 85 being grounded at 95 and the battery being grounded at 92. When the solenoid is energized the plunger 85 will be forced outwardly or to the right of Fig. 2, thus rocking the arm 'i5 to the right at the upper end against the tension of the spring and against the tension of the spring 79. This rocking movement will rock the lower end of the arm 'I8 to the left of the drawing so that the roller 'ai (see Fig. 7) is moved to the left sufciently to allow the bar 43 to rise upwardly so that the notch or recess 59 disengages from theI pin 49A. When this disengagement takes place the bar lid may move to the left of Fig. 2, permitting the lever or arm 41 to swing to the left and thus permitting the axles or shafts 32 and 28 to rock on the axis of the end of the angularly turned portions 33 and 34 which will cause the frame to lower so that the plow 21 is lowered to the desired position and the various parts will have moved into the' position shown in Fig. 3, the spring S5 returning the arm 'I0 to the full line position, the roller bearing arm 'I5 cannot return to the position shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 4 because the heel 'M will be in engagement with the roller l? thus resisting an attempt of the arm 75 to return to the position shown in Fig. 4 in response to the tension of the spring 19.

When it is desired to raise the plow from operative position shown in Fig. 3, to inoperative position shown in Fig. 2, the switch would again be closed and the solenoid energized to thrust the plunger 86 to the right of the drawing thus rocking the arm 10 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. As the arm 19 rocks to the right at its top and to the left at its bottom it will draw the dog 12 so that the nose 13 will engage the dog 68 and rock it out of engagement with the recess 61. This will permit the shaft 65 to rock in response to the weight of the member 89 and this member will drop downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 5, so that the teeth 9|! may be engaged by the pins 38. The discs 36 and 31 which carry these pins will be rotating in unison with the traction wheel 35. An examination of Fig. 3 will indicate that when the plow is lowered to operative position the crank 33 of the shaft will have moved closer to approach the horizontal position. Consequently when the traction wheel 35 is rotated while the teeth 9|] are engaged by the pins 38 a rearward thrust will be delivered to the crank 33 of the shaft tending to move it downwardly at its upper end toward the vertical. This of course will effect a rocking of the shaft 32 and lon-gitudinal movement of the bar 48. This longitudinal movement will continue against the compression of the spring 82 until the notch 49 drops downwardly over the pin 49A. When this is accomplished the arm 15 will move in response to the tension of the spring 19 so that the roller will be positioned as shown in Fig. 4 and serve as an abutment for preventing upward movement of the arm 48. As the roller 11 moves into the position shown in Fig. 4, through eng-agement with the heel 14, the arm 12 will be rocked upwardly so that on the next rearward or swinging movement when the arm 10 is moved by the plunger 86 the nose 13 will clear the dog 68.

As the pins are rotated to the right of Fig. and the arm 89 is raised upwardly the arm 66 will be rocked to the right drawing with it the rod 80. The member 83 enga-ging one end of the spring 82 will carry this spring 82 until it engages at its opposite end with the stationary abutment member and then after the movement continues the spring 82 will be placed under compression. The compression of thisv spring will be suicient so that when the pins 38 nally clear the teeth 90 on the arm 89 the shaft 65 will be rocked quickly to the right in response to the compression of the spring 82 thus snappingI the arm 89 and the arm 56 into the position shown in Fig. 2.

With this mechanism therefore, the plow or other implement may be raised and lowered by the operator of the vehicle simply by closing a switch. This permits the operator of the vehicle to keep both hands on the steering wheel of the vehicle and properly control its operation as the switch may be placed in a convenient place on the steering wheel where it may be flicked to closed position by the nger without removing the hand from the steering wheel. The switch will be of course of the spring actuated type so that when it is pressed inwardly the switch will be closed and the release of the pressure will permit the switch to move to open position. The switch might also be placed in such a position that the operator could operate it by his foot, arm or other movable part of the body.

This way I have provided a simple and eiective means for controlling the raising and lowering of the plow in which the various advantages enumerated are obtained and the disadvantages referred to are avoided.

What I claim as new is:

In a device of the class described, a supporting frame adapted for supporting a ground working implement and movable to operative and inoperative position; a raising mechanism for raising said frame from operative to inoperative position; a latch mechanism for retaining said raising mechanism in inoperative position; a pair of spaced apart plates mounted on and projecting upwardly from said frame; an arm pivotally mounted on and adapted for movement between said plates; a swingably mounted latch releasing dog on said arm and adapted upon movement of said arm in one direction for releasing said latching mechanism; a bracket mounted on and projecting outwardly from the upper end of said plates; a solenoid mounted on said bracket; and a slidable plunger in said solenoid adapted upon energizing of said solenoid for moving said arm in said direction; means for preventing movement of said frame from inoperative to operative position and embodying a longitudinally, movable notch-bearing bar; an engagement member engageable in the notch in said bar for preventing longitudinal movement of the same and retaining said frame in inoperative position; a roller bearing arm mounted on said rst named arm and lying between said plates; a roller on the lower end of said roller bearing arm engageable with the upper face of said bar for normally retaining said engagement member in said notch; a heel on said dog eng-ageable with said roller and adapted upon movement of said rst named arm in said direction for moving said roller bearing arm to inoperative position for permitting dis-engagement of said notch with said engagement member and retaining said roller bearing arm rocked to inoperative position for preventing binding of said roller with said bar.

BENJAMIN D. STEVENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,253,419 Cunningham Aug. 19, 1941 2,286,359 Gemberling June 16, 1942 2,359,600 Altgelt Oct. 3, 1944 

